A leading food historian is claiming that Scotland's national dish "haggis" may have originated in England.

Author Peter Brears describes it as a "fine English dish" which was made throughout the country from the 15th century.

In his new book "Traditional Food in Northumbria", which is about North-East cuisine of yesteryear, he says that the modern whisky-laden image is purely manufactured and owes more to "romantic patriotism than historical reality".

Mr Brears said:

"Haggis is an English dish that the Scots decided they would take on when they decided they needed a national identity.

"Newcastle haggis has got fruit, oatmeal, suet and meat in and you could get this in the Grainger Market."